| The triskele is an interesting and often seen Celtic | | | | cycle of life. It is obvious that the number three |
| symbol. It is one of the better known and more | | | | had some special meaning to the first users of |
| used symbols throughout the Celtic areas and can | | | | the symbol. |
| be found on such things as tattoos, shields, | | | | The most common form of the triskele Celtic |
| stationary, clothing, pottery and glassware. | | | | symbol was found on a tomb from the Neolithic |
| In looks it resembles 3 spirals interconnected with | | | | period, at Newgrange, near the town of |
| no open ends and so it is a continuous line. It is | | | | Drogheda. The Neolithic period signaled the rise of |
| sometimes referred to as the triple spiral by | | | | stone tools, organized villages with crop growing |
| those who are not familiar with the Celtic term | | | | and the presence of crafts such as weaving and |
| Triskele. You may also see it termed as the | | | | pottery. This period occurred about 3200 BC at |
| Tri-spiral. The spirals are all fluidly spiraling in the | | | | Newgrange where the Celtic symbol was found, |
| same direction. In Celtic symbolism it is related to | | | | and occurred at different times in other parts of |
| the triquetra in looks and meaning. The triple spiral | | | | the world. Scholars and old stories from the |
| symbol is common in modern Celtic art as well as | | | | Newgrange area tell how the symbol may stand |
| ancient art. | | | | for the pregnancy cycle, as related to the sun. |
| The triskele was actually found to be used as a | | | | Legend says that Christianity in Ireland started |
| symbol before the Celts reached the island of | | | | there. Perhaps the tri-spiral symbol and the ideals |
| Ireland and so it is very old and was more or less | | | | of Christianity can be compared. The Newgrange |
| assimilated into Celtic culture. It is uncertain | | | | tomb specifically was built to allow sun to shine |
| exactly where the very early inhabitants of | | | | into it during seasonal solstice periods. The sun |
| Ireland came from before the Celts. They may | | | | was important to the ancient cultures. Since the |
| have been migratory people traveling down | | | | sun forms somewhat of a clockwise spiral form |
| through Scotland or Berber or seaman that came | | | | Eat to West every three months and there are 9 |
| from the coast of Africa as some have | | | | months in the average pregnancy, the Triskele |
| speculated. Others say the early tribes in Ireland | | | | shows three spirals tightly interlaced as in a |
| descend from the Milesians who went from Egypt | | | | comforting womb. The Triskele spirals appear to |
| to France and Spain and then Ireland. | | | | be in a clockwise fashion as well. |
| In the pagan realm the triskele is connected to | | | | There is another possibility as to the meaning of |
| the mother goddess. It is an invocation of the | | | | the Triskele. The Newgrange tomb was said to |
| three material substance domains of earth, sky | | | | have been built for the ancient king Dagda Mor of |
| and water. Perhaps it also had a secondary | | | | the Tuatha De Danann tribe. This king had three |
| meaning dealing with reincarnation since it is a | | | | sons. Perhaps each spiral stood for each son. |
| continuous line possibly depicting the never ending | | | | |